Driveway Services

Your driveway is an important part of your property because it gives guests and neighbours a first impression of your home.

You will need to consider:

1. Design - a well-designed driveway will take into account the surrounding landscape as well as your home's architectural style.

2. Size - the width and layout of your driveway will impact how accessible your home is. There are a variety of layout options for residential driveways you can choose from to accommodate your needs.

3. Material - this is partly dependent on your budget. The material you select for your driveway also must durable enough to resist tire marks, oil drips and chemicals. You will also want to consider accessories that make your driveway safer and more appealing, such as gates and lighting.

Let's first look at materials...

Resin Bonded Stone Surfacing or Block Paving

Block paving looks ideal for paving a new driveway. It looks attractive, it’s often very durable and it can be laid easily.

Unfortunately, there are some issues to consider - colour changes, displacement (as sturdy as the sand layer is underneath it is prone to movement over time, creating hollows and ridges in your driveway) and weeds (that frequently grow in between the surface joints and cracks).

If you need a new driveway for your home or are considering having your existing driveway replaced, there are much better driveway ideas that you should consider.

By far one of the most cost-effective, durable and attractive options available to you is resin bonded stone surfacing. A resin bonded stone driveway is made primarily from gravel aggregate commonly used in loose gravel driveways. The difference is a strong epoxy binder.

There are some key advantages - lower cost (nearly half as much money on a resin bonded stone driveway), durability (less repairs required), and low maintenance (the resin preventing weeds). It is also much more stain resistant than  blocks.

Now let's look at design...

Driveway layouts

Circular Driveways

Circular driveways are one of the most popular driveway layouts. Sometimes called a horseshoe driveway, this layout option has an entrance at the road, rounds off as it approaches the house and then has a separate exit lane leading back to the road.

This type of driveway is popular, eliminating the need for backing out or turning around so that you can always safely re-enter the road.

Curved Driveways

There are a variety of reasons to opt for a curved driveway. It may be that the entry point off the road doesn't line up with your garage. Or you may be looking to add interest to the overall look of your home.

Straight Driveways

There are two situations in which a completely straight driveway is appropriate. If you have a small front garden, but also if you have a large front garden and want to line with trees for impact.

Driveway gates

Essentially 5 things to consider here on the choice of gate.

Firstly the type. Choose between a single-swing, bi-parting swing, and sliding.

Second the material. Choose between wood (for that rustic look, but remember it can weather over time), or metal (which can be open for visibility, and will last for years)

Third the construction. A choice of prefabricated and custom.

Fourthly the posts. Stone (may be topped with a lantern) or wood (if you want slimmer posts).

Finally manual or automatic. If you choose automatic then there are remote entry options, keypad entry, telephone entry, and sensors (commonly used for exiting a gate).
 

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